Type-writing machine.



PATENTED JULY 23, 1907.

T. L. DENNIS.

4 TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED no. 2. 1904. RENEWED NOVJS, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SEEET 1.

27mm Z. Ziezzruls No. 860,643. PATENTED JULY 23, 1907. T. L. DENNIS.

TYPE WRITING MAGHINE. APPLIGATION 31mm DBO. a. 1904. RENEWED NOV.13, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THOMA'SL. DENNIS, on NEW'YORK, N. Y.

TYPE-WRITING- MACHINE.

"Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July as, 1907.

Application filed December 2, 1904, Serial No 235,242. Renewed November 13, 1906. Serial No. 343,289-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. DENNIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention, while relating to that class of type- ,writing machines in which the types that form the letters or other impressions are carried upon the free ends of swinging levers or "typebars so called, has reference more particularly to that form of such machine in which the type-bars are so mounted that, when properly operatcd, they swing their respective types downward upon the paper or other material as it is supported upon the paper carrying cylinder, to make their respective impressions thereon, and are then swung backward therefrom to allow of the writing or printing being exposed to the view and inspection of the operator as soon as the several impressions are made; the objects of the invention being to provide a machine of this class, which, while greatly simplified and thereby materially cheapcned in the cost of manufacture, shall at the same time be more cilicient in operation and less liable to get out of adjustment and repair than those heretofore in use.

To these ends the invention consists, first, in the means by which the several type-bars are connected with and operated from their respective actuating keylcvers; second, in the means by which the several typebars and their connections with their respective actuating key-levers are mounted and supported in or upon the machine, and third, in various other constructions and combinations of parts, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure 1, is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine, taken in the line x a; of Fig. 3; Fig. 2, a similar vertical longitudinal section thereof taken in the same line as Fig. l, butshowing certain of the parts in a slightly different position; Fig.3, a plan view of the machine, with various of its parts removed, others broken away for convenience of illustration, and others shown in dotted lines; Fig. 4, aplan view of one of the intermediate levers by means of which the type-bars are connected with the actuating key-levers, detached; Fig. 5, a plan view of one of the blanks from which the intermediate levers are formed, and Fig. 6, a section of one of the type-bars taken in the plane y y of Fig. 2.

In all the figures like letters of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts.

A indicates the framework or housing of the machines, and B indicates the cylinder upon which the paper or other material receiving the impression of the type is supported and carried during the type-writing operation. The frame work or housing A may be constructed in any approved form that willadapt it to receive and support the various parts of the machine, and the cylinder B may, in practice, be mounted in a suitable carriage, which, through appropriate mechanism, is caused to move forward in the direction of its length by a progressive step by step movement, to not only feed the paper or other material to the action of the successive types, during the type-writing operation, but to properly space the intervals between the successive impressions made by them and between the successive words, as is usual with type writing machines as heretofore constructed. This carriage and the mechanism by which its movements are effected however constitute no part of my present invention. They have therefore been omitted from the drawings, and a further description of them herein is not considered necessary. 0 indicates the type-bars which are normally held in upwardly and outwardly inclined positions, and are arranged in a circular row concentric to a common center located at or near the upper surface of the cylinder B, at the point marked with each of the bars disposed in radial relationship thereto, and provided on its inner edge at or near its outer end with one or more of the types 0 with which the machine is or may be equipped. As thus disposed-and provided, the printing is effected by swinging these type-bars towards and downward in the required order upon the paper or other inaterial supported upon the cylinder B, until their respective types are brought into contact with it; and in order to insure of the successive types being brought into the exact position to imprint or impress their respective letters or characters in the required location, the lengths of the type-bars are so proportioned as to bring them into that relationship when the types are carried forward into contact with the paper or other material.

v For supporting the type-bars and permitting of their swinging movement toward and away from the cylinder B, I make use of a stand D, which is constructed in the form of an arc of a circle and is provided with radially disposedsl ots d formed therein in which the type-bars ar pivoted by a wire (P, which passes through a suitable orifice formed in or near the lower end of each, and is itself secured in anorifice d formed near the top of the stand near the outer surface thereof. structed this stand is secured to or formed upon the upper surface of a supporting plate or base E,'which extends transversely across the frame work or housing A, from one side thereof to the other, and either made integrally therewith or detachable therefrom and secured at its ends to the upper edges of side walls ofthe same by screws e or otherwise, is so disposed upon these side walls as to bring the stand carried by it into concentric relationship with respect'to the center of impact of the various t'yp'es 0 against the cylinder B,- marked in Fig. 3, as these types are. brought into contact with it.

With thetype-bars arranged and supported asabove As thus con-' posed,

explained, the swinging of these bars toward the cylinder B to make the required impressions upon the paper or other material, or to meet other demands thereon, is effected by key-levers F, of which there is a separate lever employed in connection with each type-bar. These key-levers are preferably arranged side by side within the lower portion of the frame work or housing A, and are pivoted at their rear ends upon a rod f, which extends transversely across the frame work or housing, near the rear of the latter, and is secured at its opposite ends in the side walls thereof. From the rod f these key-levers extend forward to the front of the machine and are provided upon their forward upturned ends with appropriate key or finger-pieces f, through which the depressiohs of the free forward ends of such levers may be effected when desired. As thus diseach of these key-levers F is connected with its respective type-bars C through the interventionof an intermediate lever H, which is provided at its inner end with a pin or roller it that engages with a slot 0 formed in the lower enlarged end of the type-bar O, and is attached at its out r rear end to a key-lever F by a connecting rod I. The intermediate lever H, being thus arranged and connected, is fulcrumed near its middle point in a stand L, which is preferably constructed in circular form and is secured to or formed upon the upper surface of the plate or base E, in concentric relationship to the stand D, with a series of radially disposed slots lformed therein to register therewith or in prolongation of the slots d in the stand D, whereby, in the construction of these parts, the formation of each of the slots in both of the stands may be effected at one and the same milling operation. Within the slots 1, as thus formed, are fulcrumed the respective levers H upon a wire F, which extends through a suitable orifice or bearing 1 formed in each, and is itself secured in a suitable orifice 1 formed near the outer surface of the stand L and near the top thereof, as shown.

In the construction of the levers H various forms may be adopted. I prefer however to constructthem from sheet metal and to provide them alike with bifurcated inner ends and with open fulcrumed bearings l, whereby to permit, not only of the pivoting of a friction roll h between the inner ends of the branches of each, and of the movement of the lower ends of their respective cooperating type-bars between their inner projecting branches, but of the ready removal and replacement of the levers from and upon their fulcrumed wires Z when desired. When this form of construction is adopted, a blank H for each, of the form of that shown in Fig. 5, is first struck up from, or pressed outof, sheet metal, with a slot h formed in its inner end, and an aperture h* of approximately heart shape to for-m the open fulcrumed bearing'l located near its middle point.

As thus constructed, this blank is then folded upwardly along a longitudinal central line, as shown,'for instance, by the dotted lines I in Fig. 5, with the result. that the portions on opposite sides of this line will be brought together into the form of a bar, and an open bearing 1 of the contour of that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 produced. The transformation of the blank up to this point having been accomplished, the portion of its inner end on opposite sides of the slot h are then bent outw d and then inward, whereby to dispose them in parallel relationship, as shown in Fig. after which the 'orifiee k is formed through their inner ends to receive the pivot of the roller h, the orifices k formed through the rear end of the blank to receive the upper end of the connecting rod 1, and the roller h rotatively secured in place by riveting the ends of its supporting pivot in the orifices h, when the lever H is completed ready for use, and the same method of procedure followed throughout the entire series of levers H. a

With the levers H constructed as above described and arranged in proper relationship within the machine, the roller h in the inner end of each is in engagement with the slot 0 in its respective type-bars G, and

travels upward along the same, as the rear end of its respective carrying lever H is depressed by the key-lever appropriate thereto, causing thereby the swinging forward of the type-bar toward the cylinder B and in order to provide for accelerating the movement of the typebar in thus swinging forward from its rearmost position, the slots 0 in its lower end is preferably constructed in the form of an involute, with gradually decreasing radius from its outer to its inner end. The type-bars 0 having been thus swung forward to bring their respective types in contact with the cylinder B, are each returned to its rearmost position away from the cylinder, by means of a spring m, which is preferably constructed with an intermediate coil m and with two extending arms m and m of which the arm m is pro; vided with a loop at its outer end that engages with a stud c projecting from the side of its respective type-' bar, while the outer free end of its arm m is overturned or provided with a hook, which engages with an orifice 1 formed in an upwardly extending portion of its cooperating lever H, as shown. With the type-bars thus provided with means for both swinging them forward towards, and backward away from, the cylinder B, the backward swinging movements of these bars are limited by a stop N, which is preferably formed from a strip of sheet metal bent in curvilinearform, approximately concentric to the supporting stand D, and is supported at the proper elevation from the frame wgrk or housing of the machine, posts N, to the upper ends of which its own ends are secured by appropriate screws m with a buffer 11v secured to its inner face and preferably constructed of some sound-deadening material, such, for instance, as felt. While the backward swinging movement of the type bars O is thus limited, and the intermediate levers Hare disposed in radial relationship above the parallelly arranged key-levers F, substantial uniformity of leverage between these key-levers and the type-bars throughout the series is accomplished by connecting these key-levers with their respective cooperating intermediate levers H at different distances from their respective fulcra. To allow of the accomplishment of this result, the orifices h in the rear ends of the intermediate levers H (of which there may be a single orifice or a plurality of orifices in each) are formed at different distances from" the fulcra of such levers As thus arranged the connection of the upper end of the connecting rod I with the intermediate lever H at each end of the series as, for instance, at F*', will be with the orifice h nearest the fulcrum of that lever, in which case the power arm of that lever by upwardly extending standards or' the extreme ends of the series, around to near the midthe orifices k at a greater distance from the fulcrum of its appropriate intermediate lever and so on until. the middle intermediatedever of the series is ap proached, and the power arm of that intermediate I lever and the corresponding weight-arm of'its respective cooperating key-lever will then be at their greatest lengths; and the corresponding power arm of its re' spective cooperating key-lever at its shortest length.

By this arrangement, as will be seen, not only will the leverage of the key-levers upon their respective type bars be thus rendered practically uniform throughout,

but substantially the same extent of verticalmov-ement' of the key-levers, to bring their respective typebars into contact with the cylinder B from their backward limit, be also insured. v

I In like manner to provide for bringing each of the keys or finger-pieces f into properrelationship with respect tothe others, I find it convenient to construct the rods I, which connects the key-levers with their respective cooperating intermediate levers H, with an adjustable capability whereby to permit of their being lengthened or shortened as may be desired. To this end I preferably construct the connecting rods of wire, and, in addition to a suitable loop at its lower end for embracing the key-lever, and an overturned hook at its upper end for engagement with one or the other of the orifices k in the intermediate lever H, I provide each at a point intermediate its ends with a single loop or a plurality of loops t', which is or are more or less open as shown. As thus constructed, the lengthening of the rod or rods when required to lower its or their respective key or finger-piece, or keys or linger-pieces, will be effected by simply opening out the loop or loops in the particular connecting rod or rods to a greater or lesser extent, by means of a screw driver or other suitable appliance. inserted within the same and properly operated therein. On the other hand, the shortening of this rod or these rods when demanded to raise the key or finger-piece or keys or finger-pieces may be accomplished by forcing together the sides of the appropriate loop or loops to the tically disposed plate 0, which extends transversely across the frame work or housing of the machine from,

one side thereof to the other, and is secured at its ends to the side walls thereof by screws 0, which pass through suitable overturned ears 0 formed on the ends of the plate and engage with correspondingly shaped threaded orifices in the side walls of the former. p ed, this plate 0 is provided with a series of slots 0 w ich extend upward from its lower edge to the proper As thus disheight and correspond in number with that oithe key levers. Within eachoi the slots thus formed is arranged one of the key-levers F which is-guided by the side walls thereof, being limited'in its upward movement by the upper end 0 of the slot, which is disposed at the same height as that of all the others. With the front ends of these key-levers thus heldvand guided, the rear ends of these levers are in like manner he1 d at the proper distances apart by a similar vertically disposed slotted plate P, which extends transversely across the frame work or housing of the machine, from one side thereof to the other, with its slots for receiyingthe rear ends of the key-levers formed from the upper edge thereof downward to the proper distance; and instead of being secured to the upper edge of the side walls of the frame work orhousing, this plate P is secured to the base thereof by screws p, which pass through suitable orifices formed in overturned ears p at its ends, and enter correspondingly shaped threaded orifices formed in the base of the framework or housing, as shown. By this arrangement of guides and stops, as will be seen, not

only are the key-levers properly held and guided atboth of their ends but the upward movement of each limited thereby.

From the foregoing therefore it will be seen that I provide a construction in which, not only is the typewriting visible at all times diu'ing the writing' thereof, except when the types are making their respective impressions, and the type-bars are carried forward in contact with the paper or other material with a gradually increasing and easy movement, but, in consequence of the constructionof the levers, intermediate certain of the ways in which it is or may be carried into effect; I claim and desire to secure bv Letters Patent of the United States, I

1. The combination, with an upwardly and outwardly inclined typebar provided at its lower part with a slot which has a gradually decreasing radius from its outer tov its inner end, a stand in which the lower end of the type-bar is pivoted, and a key-lever for operating it, of an intermediate lever provided with a pin and roller-at its inner end for engaging with said slot, a second stand in which said intermediate-lever is fulcrumed a common base for both of said stands, which latter have registering radial slots, and a connecting rod for connecting the outer end of said intermediate lever with the key-lever, substantinlly as described.

2; The combination, with a series of upwardly and outwnrdly inclined type-bars, each provided at its lower end with a curvilinear slot which is of a-graduallydiminishlug radius from its outer to its inner end, a curvilinear 'bars are swung forward, of a series of radially disposed intermediate levers each of which is adapted at itsinner end to engage with a curvilinear slot in the lower end of its respective typebar, a curvilinear stnnd provided-with.

and in which last-named stand vsaid intermediateflevers are fulcrume'd,. a common basefor both of said stands, and

' devices by which theouter ends of said intermediate levers are connected with their appropriate key-levers, substan- 'tially as described. "3; The combination, with. an upwardly and outwardly inclined type-bar, a stand in which its lower end is pivoted, a lever operatively connected at its inner end with the lower-end of the type-bar, a stand in which lthi5 lever is fn1crumed, of a double-actingspring ini'erposed'between the said typebar and the said lever and directly engaging both of these parts, and serving to return them to their normal positions after having'been removed therefrom, substantially as described. y 4. The combination, with a series of upwardly and outwardly inclined type-bars each provided with a sl'ot'in its lower end, a curvilinear sta-nd provided witha series of radially disposed slots in which the lower ends of the said 4 type-bars are pivotedfand a series of key-levers by means of which such type-bars are swung forward, of a series of radially disposed intermediate levers each of which is provided at its inner end with a pln and roller for engage ment with the slot in the lowerend'of its respective type propriate key-levers, substantially as described.

The combination, with a series of upwardly and out- {yarly inclined type-bars disposed ,in radial relationship,

5 and provided with a curved slot in the lower end of each,

Y acnrvlllnear stand provided'with radially disposedslots linear stands which are -bar. a curvilinear stand provided with a series of rain which such intermediate levers are 4 of said intermediate levers areconnected with their ap-,

in which the'type-bars are pivoted at their lower ends, and

a. series of parallelly disposed key leversby nie'ans otwhich the forward movements of. the type-bars may be 1 effected, of a serisot radially disposed intermediate levers provided with a pin and'roller intheinnerend of eachfor engagement with the slot in the lower end of its respective the connection 'q't the outer type-bar e. curvilinear st'and provided with aseries of slots in which the intermediate levers are fulcrumed'; and I connecting devices whereby keylevers may be eifected at'difierent distances from the. I fulcra ofvboth levers, whereby torender the leverage oii thekey-levers upon-their respective type-bars substantially,"

.uniform,

,6.. The combination, base provided with two substantially as described.

with the slots in one stand in line with'and in prolongation of the corresponding slots in the other, a series of type-barspivo ted in one of said stands and provided at theirpivoted. ends with i 7 ends, and a series of intermediate levers having theirtulera in the'otherof said stands and adapted at their inner the curvilinear surof their respective typedia'rs and connected at their ends to actupon'a-nd-coiiperate with faces I outer ends withtheir respective key-levers, substantially as described.

Witnesses WM. H. Arrnnroir,

R. F. SwmnNY.

with a series of key-levers, of aconcentrically. arranged cu'rviboth provided with radial slots,

In witness whereof I' have hereunto set iny hand this- .th dayof November, 1904, 7

curvilinear operating surfaces. of v gradunllydedeasing radii from their outer to theirinner V 

